Systems and methods for a rapid and secure temporary screen room enclosure

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a rapid and secure temporary screen room enclosure. According to an aspect, a temporary screen room enclosure for use with an awning is affixed to a structure, wherein the temporary screen room enclosure comprises a side panel having edges for creating an interior space. Further, a first clip attached to a corner of the enclosure for affixing the corner to a first receiving coupling. Additionally, a second clip attached to a second corner for affixing the second corner to a second receiving coupling. Further, an elastic cord with an elastic cord first end attached to the first corner and an elastic cord second end attached to the second corner. Further, the first clip and the second clip are configured to be affixed to opposing ends of an awning.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/972,241, filed on Mar. 29, 2014 and titledSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A RAPID AND SECURE TEMPORARY SCREEN ROOMENCLOSURE, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to room enclosures. Particularly, thepresent invention relates to systems and method for a rapid and securetemporary screen room enclosure.

BACKGROUND

Sunrooms and screen room enclosures have become popular as permanentadd-on enclosures to homes and other structures. When built onto a homeor other structure, the screen room enclosure can provide additionalliving space outside the home that is protected from outdoor annoyances,such as bugs.

Because of the large expense related to building a permanent type ofstructure, many property owners have had to reduce either the size orcomplexity of the sunroom and screen room enclosure. Some propertyowners have instead purchased or have had built, a lesser expensiveawning for shade protection forgoing screened protection. In some cases,the property owner has purchased and attached to their home or thedesired structure, a retractable awning. As a result of building aretractable awning the property owners have realized a substantial costsavings over the expense of building a far more permanent structure. Inthis manner, the retractable awning can be retracted in the case astorm, large wind or the like requires the awning to be pulled closer tothe house or permanent structure to which it is attached.

There is a desire to provide improvements to retractable awnings.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a rapid and securetemporary screen room enclosure. According to an aspect, a temporaryscreen room enclosure for use with an awning is affixed to a structure,wherein the temporary screen room enclosure comprises a side panelhaving a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second sideedge for creating an interior space. Further, a first clip attached to afirst intersection of the top edge and the first side edge for affixingthe first intersection to a first receiving coupling. Additionally, asecond clip attached to a second intersection of the top edge and thesecond side edge for affixing the second intersection to a secondreceiving coupling. Further, an elastic cord with an elastic cord firstend attached to the first intersection and an elastic cord second endattached to the second intersection. Further, the first clip and thesecond clip are configured to be affixed to opposing ends of an awning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofvarious embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shownin the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosedsubject matter is not limited to the specific methods andinstrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art screened room enclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an angled view of the screened roomenclosure on an awning according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second angled view of thescreened room enclosure on an awning according to the present invention

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third angled view of the screenedroom enclosure on an awning according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a top view of the screened roomenclosure on an awning according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a side view of the screened roomenclosure on an awning according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view of a clip mechanism releasably coupled to the structureor awning according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity tomeet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is notintended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors havecontemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied inother ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the onesdescribed in this document, in conjunction with other present or futuretechnologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein toconnote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

An example screen room enclosure 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The enclosure100 can provide protection from adverse weather, such as wind and rain.Further, the screen room enclosure can provide protection frombothersome animals, such as insects and squirrels. A typical screen roomenclosure 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of structural components,such as, a roof 102, a front panel 104 and side panels 106. The screenroom enclosure 100 may also include privacy panels 108, which are shownin a rolled up position, to cover screens 110 and a door 112. Thecomponents of the screen room enclosure are built into a permanentsunrooms or screen room with a permanent roof 102. This permanent screenroom enclosure 100 structure can be expensive to build because ofnumerous city and municipal regulations and building codes.

With regard to FIG. 2, a perspective view showing an angled view of thetemporary screened room enclosure on an awning according to the presentinvention is provided. A temporary screened room enclosure 200 iscomprised of a side panel 202 a screen material 204 with a top edge 206,a bottom edge 208, a first edge 210 and a second edge 212 for creatingan interior space. The temporary screened room enclosure 200 isconfigured to be affixed to an awning 214. The screen material 204 maybe any type of suitable material. The screened material 204 may be ascreen-type material such as insect screening, fiberglass screening,aluminum screening, ultra violet screening, as non-limiting examples. Inalternative embodiments, the screen material 204 may include, but is notlimited to, solid materials, such as plexiglass or other transparentmaterial, further the solid material may include nylon or othersynthetic polymers.

The awning 214 may be affixed to a permanent structure 216, such as ahouse, or shed or even a mobile structure such as a recreational vehicleor mobile home or trailer. The awning 214 may be a retractable awningdesigned to be permanently affixed to a permanent structure such as ahouse. The awning 214 may further be a pop up tent (not shown). The topedge 206 of the temporary screened room enclosure 200 may have anelastic cord 213 constructed of a type of material such as elastic or aless elastic material such as a rope, cord or other which may be cinchedto create partial closure along the top edge 206 of the temporaryscreened room enclosure 200 which may allow the screened room enclosure200 to be supported by the awning 214. A first intersection 217 isformed at the intersection of the top edge 206 and the first edge 210. Asecond intersection 218 is formed at the intersection of the top edge206 and the second edge 212. The elastic cord is comprised of an elasticcord first end attached to the first intersection 217 and an elasticcord second end attached to the second intersection 218. Further, thescreened room enclosure is comprised of a first clip 220 and a secondclip 222. Both the first clip 220 and the second clip 222 are configuredto be affixed to opposing ends of the awning 214. The first clip 220 andthe second clip 222 may be any clip which facilitates the relativelyfast and easy attachment to the awning 214. Additionally, the clips usedmay be attached to the end of the elastic cord 213 and looped over ahook or similar mechanism and then affixed to a secure receiving hook,metal loop, or other similar device for receiving the first clip 220 andthe second clip 222. In alternative embodiments, the first clip 220 andthe second clip 222 may be configured such that both clips 220 and 222may be affixed to the same receiving hook.

With continued regard to FIG. 2, the bottom edge 208 may be comprised ofa lead core rope 224. The lead core rope 224 may be of varying sizingsufficient to secure the bottom edge 208 of the temporary screened roomenclosure 200. The sizes of the lead core rope 224 may vary from quarter(¼″) inch to one (1″) in diameter. The lead core rope 224 may be sewninto the bottom edge or otherwise attached to the bottom edge 208 suchas with snaps or a hook and loop fastener (such as the VELCRO® brandfabric hook and fastener product provided by Velcro Industries B.V.), asnon-limiting examples. The lead core rope may be divided in a mannersufficient to seal the bottom of the interior space adjacent to thefloor while lessening the weight of the temporary screen room enclosure200. In alternative embodiments the bottom edge may be secured to theflooring with a hook and loop fastener, snaps or other mechanisms knowncommonly in the art. In alternative embodiments the bottom edge may besealed at the bottom of the interior space adjacent to the floor by aplurality of sealed pockets 226. The sealed pockets 226 may be filledwith a liquid such as water, or other solid material sufficient toweight the screened material 204. The solid material sufficient toweight the screened material 204, may be sand, rock, gravel, lead orother material. Alternatively, the screened material 204 may be made ofa material sufficient to properly weight the material down without theneed for additional weighting such as using the sealed pockets 226, thelead core rope 224 or other similar weighting.

With continued regard to FIG. 2, the top edge 206 may be comprised of apadding 228 affixed to the top edge 206 extending for at least a portionof top edge 206 from the first intersection 217 to the secondintersection 218, wherein the padding extends partially towards thebottom edge 208. The padding 228 extends partially towards the bottomedge 208 in such a manner to protect the screened material 204 fromtears, rips or excessive wear. The padding 228 may be sewn or otherwiseaffixed to the top edge 206 by means commonly used, such as hook andloop fastener, snaps, clips or fastening mechanisms. Additionally, thepadding 228 may be reinforced with at least a second layer of paddingmaterial. The padding material may be either synthetic or non-syntheticmaterial. For example the padding material may be comprised of cotton,nylon, canvas or other similar material, wherein the material mayprotect the temporary screened room enclosure from tears, rips orexcessive wear. The padding material may also be comprised of aplurality of layers.

With continued regard to FIG. 2, the padding 228 affixed to the top edge206 may also comprise corner areas 230 spaced apart from the firstintersection 217 and the second intersection 218. The corner areas 230may be defined areas of the side panel 202 that provide protection forthe side panel 202 from the awning. The corner areas 230 may becomprised of either synthetic, semi-synthetic or non-synthetic material.The synthetic material may be a polymer. The screened room enclosure 200may include a cross strap 232 for improved securing of the screened roomenclosure 200. The optional cross strap 232 may be constructed ofvarying suitable types of material including, but not limited to,synthetic, semi-synthetic or non-synthetic material. The cross strap 232may also be constructed of a cord-type material, including an elasticbased material. The cross strap 232 may be configured to supportadjacent top edges 206 on either side of the corner areas 230 or acrossthe screen room enclosure 200 from opposing top edges 206.Alternatively, the screened room enclosure 200 may include magnets 234for securing the screen material 204 to the awning 214. Any suitablenumber of magnets 234 may be used as appropriate to secure the screenmaterial 204 to the awning 214, so as to hold the screen material 204positioned in place.

With regard to FIG. 3, a perspective view showing a second angled viewof the screened room enclosure 200 installed on an awning according tothe present invention is provided.

With regard to FIG. 4, a perspective view showing a third angled view ofthe screened room enclosure 200 installed on an awning according to thepresent invention is provided.

With regard to FIG. 5, a perspective view showing a top view of thescreened room enclosure 200 on an awning 214 according to the presentinvention is provided. The top view of the screened room enclosure 200shows the elastic cable 213 is configured to provide the tighteningability of the screened room enclosure 200, wherein a single size forthe screen room enclosure 200 may fit on a plurality of awning 214sizes, as an example. In the example, a single size of the screen roomenclosure 200 is configured to fit on a plurality of awning 214 sizes,the corner areas 230 may be sized in a larger fashion so as toaccommodate the varying positioning of the corners of the awning 214.

With continued regard to FIG. 5, the first clip 220 and the second clip222 may be coupled to opposing ends 500 and 502 of the awning 214. Thefirst clip 220 and the second clip 222 may be any clip suitable to becoupled to a receiving coupling 504 affixed to a permanent structure216. The permanent structure 216 may be any structure which can provideelevated support for the awning 214. In an alternative embodiment, theclips 220 and 222 may also be configured to be coupled to a receivingcoupling 504 affixed to a structure other than the permanent structure216 providing the support for the awning 214. For example, the awning214 may be supported by self-supporting legs (not shown) built into theawning 214. Additionally, the receiving coupling 504 may be a hook-typecoupling allowing for the clips 220 and 222 to be affixed to the end ofa cord, string, or rope and the cord, string, or rope is engaged withthe hook-type coupling such that the clips 220 and 222 may be clippedinto additional receiving couplings 504 attached to a deck, patio orother structure than the permanent structure 216 directly supporting theawning 214.

With regard to FIG. 6, a perspective view showing a side view of thescreened room enclosure 200 on an awning 214 according to the presentinvention is provided. The side panel 202 may comprise a window panel600 or a door panel 602. Both the window panel 600 and the door panel602 may be sized in varying fashion. For example, the door panel 602 oran alternative opening (not shown) may be sized just large enough for apet to walk through. The window panel 600 or the door panel 602 may bepositioned in varying positions between the top edge 206 and the bottomedge 208. The window panel 600 and the door panel 602 may be positionedon any side as appropriate for allowing access to stairs or otherexterior features. The bottom edge 208 of the side panel 202 may also besecured by a fastener 604, wherein the fastener 604 is at least one ofsnaps, clips or hook and loop fastener, as non-limiting examples. Asdiscussed above the bottom edge 208 may also be secured by a lead corerope 224 or other sealed pockets 226. The screened room enclosure 200may also comprise a sealing material 606. The sealing material 606 maybe made of synthetic or non-synthetic material wherein the sealingmaterial 606 is configured to provide a seal between the awning 214 andthe permanent structure 216. The sealing material 606 may be configuredto be affixed between the opposing ends of the awning 214. As anexample, the sealing material 606 may be sewn to the first intersection217 and configured to be coupled to the second intersection 218. Thesealing material 606 may be coupled by a fastening means such as a snapor hook and loop fastener. In an alternative embodiment the sealingmaterial 606 may not be fastened to the screened room enclosure 200 andinstead provided as a separate sealing accessory and placed in the gapbetween the awning 214 and the permanent structure 216. As an example,the separate sealing accessory may be a cylindrical foam material sizedthe approximate length of the awning 214.

With regard to FIG. 7, is a view of a clip mechanism releasably coupledto the structure or awning according to the present invention isprovided. The clip provided in FIG. 7 is an exemplary first clip 220 orsecond clip 222. The clips 220 and 222 may be any clip which may beaffixed to a receiving hook of any type. The receiving hook may be asimilar clip to the first clip 220 or the second clip 222. The receivinghook may be a nail, screw, hook made of any material capable of securelyholding the first clip 220 or the second clip 222.

Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with featuresfrom any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. Forexample, any individual or collective features of method aspects orembodiments may be applied to apparatus, system, product, or componentaspects of embodiments and vice versa.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with the variousembodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that othersimilar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may bemade to the described embodiment for performing the same functionwithout deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments shouldnot be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construedin breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A temporary screen room enclosure for use with anawning affixed to a structure, wherein the temporary screen roomenclosure comprises: a side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, afirst side edge and a second side edge for creating an interior space; afirst clip attached to a first intersection of the top edge and thefirst side edge for affixing the first intersection to a first receivingcoupling; a second clip attached to a second intersection of the topedge and the second side edge for affixing the second intersection to asecond receiving coupling; and an elastic cord with an elastic cordfirst end attached to the first intersection and an elastic cord secondend attached to the second intersection; and wherein the first clip andthe second clip are configured to be affixed to opposing ends of anawning.
 2. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of sealed pockets affixed to the bottom edgecausing the side panel to complete a seal of the interior space, whereinthe sealed pockets are filled with at least one of water, sand, androck.
 3. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 1, furthercomprising a padding affixed to the top edge extending from at least aportion of the first intersection to the second intersection, whereinthe padding extends partially towards the bottom edge.
 4. The temporaryscreen room enclosure of claim 3, wherein the padding affixed to the topedge from the first intersection to the second intersection is sewnforming a plurality of corner areas in the top edge, wherein the cornerareas are spaced apart from the first intersection and the secondintersection.
 5. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 4, whereinthe padding affixed to the top edge is reinforced with at least a secondlayer of padding.
 6. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 4,wherein the plurality of corner areas spaced apart from the first sideedge, the second edge, and from each other, wherein the corner areas arecomprised of a moldable synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer.
 7. Thetemporary screen room enclosure of claim 1, wherein the clips areconfigured to be coupled to a receiving coupling affixed to a permanentstructure, wherein the permanent structure provides elevated support forthe awning.
 8. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 1, whereinthe clips are configured to be coupled to a receiving coupling affixedto a structure other than the permanent structure providing the supportfor the awning.
 9. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim 1,wherein the bottom edge is secured by at least one of snaps, clips, orhook and loop fastener.
 10. The temporary screen room enclosure of claim1, further comprising a sealing material configured to be extendablefrom the first intersection to the second intersection immediatelyadjacent to a permanent structure, wherein the permanent structureprovides elevated support for the awning.
 11. A method for creating atemporary screen room enclosure for use with an awning affixed to astructure, wherein the creating the temporary screen room enclosurecomprises: creating an interior space using a side panel having a topedge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; affixing,to a first receiving coupling, a first clip, wherein the first clip isattached to a first intersection of the top edge and the first sideedge; affixing, to a second receiving coupling, a second clip, whereinthe second clip is attached to a second intersection of the top edge andthe second side edge; and securing, to an awning, the temporary screenenclosure, wherein the temporary screen enclosure comprises an elasticcord with an elastic cord first end affixed to the first intersectionand an elastic cord second end affixed to the second intersection; andcoupling the first clip and the second clip to opposing ends of anawning.
 12. The method of claim 13, further comprising weighting thetemporary screen enclosure with a lead core rope sewn into the bottomedge, the lead core rope extending at least a portion from the firstside edge to the second side edge.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising providing a protective padding affixed to the top edgeextending from at least a portion of the first intersection to thesecond intersection, wherein the padding extends partially towards thebottom edge.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming aplurality of corner areas in the top edge with the protective paddingaffixed to the top edge, wherein the corner areas are spaced apart fromthe first intersection to the second intersection is sewn.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising reinforcing the padding affixedto the top edge with at least a second layer of padding.
 16. The methodof claim 14, wherein the plurality of corner areas are spaced apart fromthe first side edge, the second side edge and from each other, whereinthe corner areas are comprised of a moldable synthetic or semi-syntheticpolymer.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling theclips to a receiving coupling affixed to a permanent structure, whereinthe permanent structure provides elevated support for the awning. 18.The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the clips to areceiving coupling affixed to a structure other than the permanentstructure providing the support for the awning.
 19. The method of claim11, further comprising securing the bottom edge by at least one ofsnaps, clips, or hook and loop fastener.
 20. The method of claim 11,further comprising sealing the interior space using a materialconfigured to be extendable from the first intersection to the secondintersection immediately adjacent to a permanent structure, wherein thepermanent structure provides elevated support for the awning.